RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr's formula for getting re-elected in November includes touring factories and visiting nonprofits, not large-scale campaign events. He says he won't focus on being a candidate until the Senate adjourns in October.
This low-key style has helped the Republican win several past elections, including two in the Senate.
But his stay-the-course approach will be sorely tested in the year of Donald Trump, a divisive state law limiting anti-discrimination rules for LGBT people and GOP Gov. Pat McCrory's rocky tenure.
His Democratic opponent is former state legislator Deborah Ross. She's traveling the state criticizing Burr on his voting record and for failing to speak forcefully about the state law.
Burr had a significant cash advantage over Ross entering the summer, but Ross has been outraising him recently.